🦬 Hanging On in the Tetons: The Story of the American Bison

In the shadow of the Grand Tetons, two American Bison graze freely — a rare and powerful sight that reminds us of what once was, and what still could be.

A Giant Once Roamed

There was a time when an estimated 30 to 60 million bison roamed across the vast grasslands, plains, and forests of North America. These animals weren’t just icons of the American frontier — they were essential to the ecosystem and central to the lives and cultures of Indigenous communities who relied on the bison for food, shelter, clothing, tools, and spiritual practice.

But in the 19th century, everything changed.

A Tragic Collapse

Through intense hunting, westward expansion, and government-backed efforts to displace Indigenous tribes, the bison population was nearly eradicated. By the late 1800s, fewer than 1,000 bison remained in the wild — a devastating blow not only to wildlife but to Indigenous lifeways and ecological balance.

A Return from the Brink

Thanks to the tireless work of early conservationists, Indigenous leaders, and the establishment of national parks, the bison began to make a slow and steady return. Today, there are roughly 500,000 bison in North America.

But here’s the catch: only about 20,000 of those live in conservation areas — wild and protected lands like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. The rest live in commercial herds, often fenced and raised for meat or private ownership, far removed from their original ecosystems and cultural roles.

The Bison Today: More Than a Symbol

In 2016, the American Bison was officially recognized as the National Mammal of the United States, a powerful acknowledgment of the species' strength, resilience, and historical importance.

But this story is about more than recovery.
Bison restoration is about more than wildlife.

It’s about:
✔️ Healing the land through large grazing animals that regenerate grasslands
✔️ Honoring Indigenous stewardship that has sustained these lands for millennia
✔️ Preserving cultural history through continued tribal bison herding programs

Why It Matters to Moss Apparel

At Moss Apparel, we believe that honoring the wild means understanding its stories — both the beautiful and the broken. We’re inspired by nature’s resilience and committed to supporting its protection.

Every purchase supports nonprofits fighting climate change and protecting public lands.
Every design reflects our passion for the natural world.
And every story — like the one of the American Bison — fuels our mission to live, wear, and give back with purpose.